Frequently Asked Questions

Background and learning approach

What is Clever Dragons?

What is Clever Dragons?

Clever Dragons is an educational and entertaining website for boys from kindergarten through eighth grade. Clever Dragons is unique in the way the site motivates boys to learn. Clever Dragons is the "brother site" to Always Icecream, a site specifically for girls. In addition, there is a third site Miacademy that is for both girls and boys.

How is Clever Dragons different from other learning sites?

How is Clever Dragons different from other learning sites?

Clever Dragons offers much more than just a selection of teaching videos, learning games, and tests. Our site provides an environment that includes a powerful incentive system for children, elaborate parental controls, and many options for real-world learning, such as writing for the weekly newspaper, or running an art shop.

Does Clever Dragons offer a full curriculum?

Does Clever Dragons offer a full curriculum?

Clever Dragons offers an emerging curriculum that is constantly expanded with new teaching videos, practice games, and tests. Many families are using Clever Dragons as their core curriculum.

Each online curriculum has areas where it is more complete than others, so we recommend supplementing the learning content offered on our sites with additional learning modules, such as science experiments, reading and interpreting literature, and other activities that work well for your student.

Many of our games come with an introductory teaching video, and many others can be played without prior instruction. Our games are designed so children learn through trial and error. If a wrong answer is selected, the correct answer is shown. The question is repeated later in the game, giving children as many chances as they need to master the material. Some games are intended to be used as practice after parent instruction.

We also have many families who use Clever Dragons to supplement the other curriculum they are using. Does your child need help learning the 50 states, or memorizing math facts? Clever Dragons is a fun and rewarding place to practice. Is your child a reluctant writer? He can publish stories, poems, and other articles on our site newspaper, receive feedback from friends, and earn motivating Gold in the process.

For an overview of Scope and Sequence of learning materials on our sites, please contact us. We're in the process of integrating a grade-level-based overview into the parent accounts, but in the meantime we can send you the information as a pdf document.

If you would like us to add any particular learning unit, please let us know!

Do all learning challenges come with instructional videos?

Do all learning challenges come with instructional videos?

Many of our games come with teaching videos, and we have many more videos coming. Our games are designed so children can learn through trial and error whether or not they have been previously exposed to the educational content. When a child gets an incorrect answer, the correct one is shown, and the question will be repeated later in the game for review. A few learning games are intended to be used as practice or review after parent or teacher instruction.

Can my child use Clever Dragons independently? Should I sit with him?

Can my child use Clever Dragons independently? Should I sit with him?

While we believe that learning alongside your child is ideal, we understand that parents have many responsibilities. We created our site (and are always improving it) for easy navigation. Younger learners may need guidance the first few times on Clever Dragons. Additionally, a few learning games are intended to be used as review after parent instruction.

How does Clever Dragons motivate boys to learn?

How does Clever Dragons motivate boys to learn?

By completing the learning materials and videos boys earn ice cream Gold — the virtual currency on Clever Dragons. This currency can then be used to play games or access other fun content, including designing furniture and clothes and selling it to other members! If parents enable the “social” features of Clever Dragons, boys participate in fun competitions based on their achievements. Clever Dragons is the first website that combines all these aspects of online usage in an educational and safe format.

How do I change the grade level setting for my child?

How do I change the grade level setting for my child?

You can change your child's grade level by logging into your parent account and selecting the "My sons" tab. There, by moving the yellow grade slider, you can choose an overall grade level or range for your child, or you can choose grade level by subject.

Do you recommend a particular computer, tablet, or smartphone?

Do you recommend a particular computer, tablet, or smartphone?

Our quality assurance team tests this site using recent versions of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Internet Explorer on PCs, Android tablets and phones, as well as Safari on Macs and iPads.

Some pages may not display properly if you're accessing our sites on older browsers or on Kindle tablets.

We don't recommend using smartphones with small screens (such as Apple's iPhone SE) for browsing our sites. When using smartphones, we recommend using landscape view.

Do you have apps?

Do you have apps?

95% of our learning games can be played on a tablet or a smartphone by using the browser and by directly accessing the website.

In addition, we're offering a growing number of dedicated apps for individual games that offer even better performance and don't require online access. Some of these apps are available now for iPads and iPhones through the App Store.

Is there a one-tap way to log in on iPad?

Is there a one-tap way to log in on iPad?

Yes! First, log into the site from Safari on your iPad. Then, tap the Share icon at the top of the screen, and choose Add to Home Screen. (You may need to scroll to the right depending on how many choices you see in the third row of the Share sheet.) Edit the title of the Home screen shortcut if you like. Tap Add to add this one-tap shortcut to your iPad’s Home screen. (This works for iPhones too.)

Who created Clever Dragons?

Who created Clever Dragons?

Dr. Johannes and Swenja Ziegler, co-founders of Clever Dragons, have three daughters and two sons. Both Johannes and Swenja were educated in Europe, Asia, and the United States and highly value a solid education for their children. With their own children, they gathered a wide range of educational experiences ranging from homeschooling to various forms of traditional and alternative education. They came up with the idea for Clever Dragons when they watched the enthusiasm with which their daughters were playing online games At the same time Johannes and Swenja were concerned about the safety and the educational value of existing sites. Being the CEO of Miaplaza Inc., a company with extensive experience in creating social websites, Johannes assembled a team of educational experts and award-winning software developers to create Clever Dragons. The site continues to grow and evolve rapidly. Many of the features that were introduced within the last year originated from the input of parents and children who were using the site.

Where can I learn more about how to use the site?

Where can I learn more about how to use the site?

If you haven’t done so already, we'd encourage you to watch our video explaining the basic functionality of the parents account. You can find this video under the “More Info” tab in the parents account. If you’d like to read more about the best way to use our site, please contact us and ask for our Parent Tutorial document.

Accounts

Why do you have separate sites for boys and girls?

Why do you have separate sites for boys and girls?

We strongly believe in equality between boys and girls when it comes to academic achievements. Therefore, both Clever Dragons and Always Icecream offer the same educational content. However, when it comes to social interaction, and expression through play and artwork, many children enjoy being in a "boys-only" or "girls-only" environment. On Clever Dragons, this allows for open discussion that would not happen in a co-ed environment. This is similar to the tried-and-true experience of "boy scouts" versus "girl scouts."

In addition to these two sites, we also offer Miacademy (www.miacademy.co), a site for both boys and girls.

What is the parents’ role on Clever Dragons?

What is the parents’ role on Clever Dragons?

Parents can play an active role on Clever Dragons. Parents receive weekly email reports on the learning progress of their sons. Through their complimentary account, parents can enable or disable the “community features” that enable boys to communicate with other members. In addition, parents can customize the educational content that is presented to their sons. There is also a unique way in which parents can use our site: Boys can be rewarded “Gold,” the site’s in-game currency, for accomplishing “real world tasks” such as practicing piano or exercising.

With an upgrade to a Premium Parent Account, parents can use the site even more systematically for their children's education. A Premium Account offers goal-setting, time-tracking, testing, and documentation of learning progress through customized reports.

Can girls join Clever Dragons?

Can girls join Clever Dragons?

We recommend that girls use Always Icecream (www.always-icecream.com), the girls' equivalent of Clever Dragons. Some girls may prefer dragons over unicorns and blue over pink. In this case, we recommend to choose the "educational-only" version of Clever Dragons that allows girls to access the learning games, but not to interact with other members. We also offer the option to change the color and background themes of the sites on both Clever Dragons and Always Icecream, so kids can personalize the look of their learning.

Girls can also join our co-ed site Miacademy (www.miacademy.co) that offers the same learning content as Clever Dragons and is made for boys and girls.

I have a son on Clever Dragons and a daughter on Always Icecream. Can I use the same parent account?

I have a son on Clever Dragons and a daughter on Always Icecream. Can I use the same parent account?

Unfortunately, for technical and usability reasons, you will need to set up separate parents accounts on both sites. You can, however, use the same email address for both accounts, and if you decide to upgrade to a Premium Parent Account you will only need to purchase one upgrade that will be good for Clever Dragons and Always Icecream.

Can my child with special needs benefit from Clever Dragons?

Can my child with special needs benefit from Clever Dragons?

Clever Dragons was specifically designed with all learners in mind. For that reason there are no timed tests so students can move at their own pace. Our learning challenges focus on repetition and many come with a read aloud option. The pages have no advertisements and are designed to have very little distraction.

Site Content

What is the educational philosophy behind Clever Dragons?

What is the educational philosophy behind Clever Dragons?

The core idea behind Clever Dragons is that children learn more when they are motivated and in a positive mood. Therefore, Clever Dragons packages drills in academic core subjects in the format of fun games. Rewards are given at all levels, including recognition of creative artwork by their peers.

Is my son safe on Clever Dragons?

Is my son safe on Clever Dragons?

User safety is our most important concern. Clever Dragons is using a wide range of methods and processes to ensure user safety and privacy. The site's content is continuously scanned for inappropriate content using both software and manual reviews. Users can also report any concerns or problems they encounter to Clever Dragons staff. Furthermore, self-policing mechanisms are in place to encourage proper behavior and etiquette. Parents receive regular email reports about the activities and learning progress of their son. Lastly, Clever Dragons has been certified by an independent third party, www.privo.com, to be compliant with the stringent requirements of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

How about topics that are controversial among parents?

How about topics that are controversial among parents?

At Clever Dragons, we try to exclude content that is contentious in some communities. The vast majority of educational subjects, however, are taught and appreciated by parents and teachers of any worldview. These are the areas that boys can practice on Clever Dragons.

In addition, parents can opt out of any subject area that they don't want to be presented to their kids. One important example is religious education. Parents can decide whether or not they want to include learning content in this category.

What is the Clever Dragons Weekly?

What is the Clever Dragons Weekly?

The Weekly is a user-written, staff-moderated newspaper to which members can submit articles. Different sections give students the chance to practice different writing formats from prose to poetry to the more technical writing required for recipes and sharing hobby project instructions. Boys receive special items for their MiniMes when their work is published. Each member may submit one article and an accompanying illustration to the upcoming edition. Articles are due each Thursday evening and have a maximum length of 5000 characters.

In addition, as part of our business simulation, boys can also pay authors of articles with in-game currency to include advertising for their shops. Prices for the inclusion of advertising are set by the authors of the articles. This give our members a unique opportunity to learn practical lessons in marketing and economics.

My child was friended by a member named “Cody”. Who is this?

My child was friended by a member named “Cody”. Who is this?

Cody is our site guide and started out as the son of Clever Dragons's founder. The person behind “Cody” is now one of our own team members. Cody is essentially a customer service representative available for children to ask about how the site works. All messages from him are automated, unless your child sends Cody a personal message asking a question.

Memberships

What is included in a Clever Dragons membership?

What is included in a Clever Dragons membership?

When you purchase a subscription, your son will receive him own account and you will receive your own parent account.Features on your child's account include: - A Personalized Learning Path. - Access to hundreds of learning games and videos. - Ability to publish stories, poems, and other articles on our site newspaper, receive feedback from friends, and earn motivating Gold in the process. - Ability to comment, message, and have positive interaction with other members in a safe environment.- Our moderators review comments, pictures, and messages from members before they appear on Clever Dragons. This provides a secure setting for children to learn how to communicate with each other on social media platforms.

Clever Dragons is free of advertising. We never sell or rent any user data. The membership fee is $12.95 per month. We also offer annual and lifetime memberships as well as upgrades to Premium Parent Accounts. We use the funds we receive to develop, on average, one new educational game for our members every week. Your basic parent account is free of charge.

I have two sons. Do I need two accounts for them?

I have two sons. Do I need two accounts for them?

On Clever Dragons, every boy should have his own account and yes, this means you'll need to purchase two separate accounts (but you only need one parent account for all your sons). This way every boy can create his own artwork, track his own learning progress, raise and care for his own pets and earn and spend his own Gold. If you want to purchase a membership for more than two sons (or daughters on Always Icecream), we recommend a Family Lifetime membership, which includes four children’s lifetime memberships that can be used on either Clever Dragons or Clever Dragons. We also offer a special Buy-Two-Get-One-Free deal, where if you purchase two children’s annual memberships, we will send you a code for a third annual membership at no charge (be sure to email us at feedback@always-icecream.com to let us know you’d like this discount, and for which site you’d like the free membership, Always Icecream or Clever Dragons).

We offer you our money-back guarantee. If you’re not fully satisfied with our service, just send us an email to feedback@clever-dragons.com with a brief description about what you didn't like about your experience with the site. If you have purchased a two-month, annual or lifetime membership, we’ll then gladly reimburse you for the full membership fee as long as you contact us within 30 days of purchasing the membership. In the case of a monthly subscription, we’ll reimburse you for the last paid month.

I would like to purchase a membership for someone else, not my own kids. How can I do this?

I would like to purchase a membership for someone else, not my own kids. How can I do this?

Clever Dragons and Always Icecream are great gifts for nieces, nephews, grandchildren, or any other children. If you are not the parent, you can purchase a membership as a gift. You can find the various gift options by selecting the "Buy as Gift" link on the page where we offer membership plans to parents.

I homeschool through a charter. Can you accept my purchase order?

I homeschool through a charter. Can you accept my purchase order?

If you're a homeschooling parent wishing to purchase a site membership with a purchase order from your charter school, please email us at charters@clever-dragons.com. We're happy to work together with you and your school to become an approved vendor if we aren't already on their list. School customers paying via purchase order: please note that due to administrative costs, Miaplaza, Inc. adds a $6 check handling fee to each invoice. This will be waived for invoices over $100 as well as for all PayPal invoices. We would be happy to invoice your school via PayPal; please let us know the email address to which to send a PayPal invoice.

I'm a teacher. Can I use Clever Dragons in my classroom?

I'm a teacher. Can I use Clever Dragons in my classroom?

Yes! Please email us at charters@miaplaza.com to learn about our teacher memberships and special classroom deals.